Products/Tools

New 18-Volt Impact Drivers

About a year ago I tested nine 18-volt impact drivers. Since then, a few new models — Bosch's 25618-02, Makita's BTD 144, and Milwaukee's 2650-20 — have come on the market. This article is a review of these next-generation lithium-ion tools. My co-workers and I used the drivers on remodeling jobs and tested them for runtime. Each arrived in a kit that included two batteries, a charger, and a case.

Standard Features The new tools are noticeably smaller than the drivers I reviewed last year — 5.75 inches long or less compared with an average of about 6.5 inches long. I consider this an advantage: Small drivers allow you to work in very tight quarters.